Amongst all the different San Juan wedding venues I've worked at, Hotel Condado Vanderbilt has become one of my favorites to shoot at. This real wedding I'm blogging today is the perfect why: outdoor oceanfront beauty filled with light for ceremonies and portraits, paired with formal ballroom reception in proper Puerto Rican wedding fashion. Best of both worlds, just as Mel & Andrieu.

Melvilí grew up in Puerto Rico, and now lives in New York with her handsome groom Andrieu, who's originally Filipino. Puerto Rico was where they got engaged, hat their engagement photos done, and where they once dreamt of bringing all their loved ones for a wedding that looked luxurious and formal at the surface, but was truly Puerto Rican at its core.

Wedding Day Getting Ready Photos at Hotel Condado Vanderbilt

As almost always, our day started in separate rooms of the same hotel: hair and makeup finishing in one room, and family starting to gather in the other. I quickly start with the accessories, heirlooms, and trinkets that finish up each look, before moving on to relationships, and whatever is happening in each room.

On Andrieu's, we were all greeted by a happy but serene calm that automatically made us feel welcome. Andrieu is the kind of man that even if you've only met once before, will ask about you, your family, and how's everything... And truly mean it. In the rush of it all, as wedding photographers, our mind is always gearing up to the next frame, and that warmth and intentionality really stops you in your tracks.

After chatting and getting acquainted, we moved on from the rooms to the indoor areas of the hotel for groom portraits worthy of such a cool man.

On Mel's room, laughter, loudness, excitement was palpable during the hardest stage of the day, the wait. Melvilí's energy is irresistible, the kind you wish you could bottle and bring with you on a slow day. Through it all we were yapping away, just being present and enjoying every minute and menial task of the day.

This time, we didn't have a first look between the couple, they wanted to keep that for the ceremony, but she did have an intimate moment alone with dad, who would later hand her off to Andrieu, and also deliver one of the most heartwarming daughter and father dances I've seen.

San Juan Wedding Ceremony at the West Veranda

Ready for the next part, we moved to West Veranda, where the intense June heat was placated by just the right amount of wind. The ceremony followed a traditional schedule, until there was a surprise musical number by a close friend of the couple who brought along Puerto Rican music legend Danny Rivera to sing for them.

We were all taken by surprise, and this performance of "Tu Vives en Mi Pensamiento" will forever stay in my heart as one of those beautiful memories that make me love this job even after 17 years of photographing weddings.

Wedding Reception at Salón Dorado, Condado Vanderbilt

After sunset newlywed portraits long the coastal views of the Vanderbilt, we moved back to West Veranda for the remainder of cocktail hour so the couple could mingle and freshen up, and also to savor another guest of honor: el lechón asao', Puerto Rico's traditional pig roast, and it was delicious.

Then Salón Dorado is Condado Vanderbilt's mid-size ballroom reception space, full of mirrored arches, crystal chandeliers, and warm gold light, just perfect for how this night would unfold.

The couple made their entrance to a live pleneros performance, getting the dancefloor full before even the toasts were done. Then we went into a cooldown moment for all the formalities: the speeches, first dance, and family dances.

After dinner, we cut the cake, and then the night dancing started back up with help of a bomba group, our iconic afro-Puerto Rican rhythm. This time they even gave guests lessons, before going into a full-blown demonstration with all the guests participating. This is when it all hit the peak, we all danced, the drums had us all vibrating, and Mel & Andrieu, enjoying through it all.

May every day of your forever feels as epic and authentically you as the first one. It was truly an honor.

xo,

Cami